Binder



Nov. 6, 1934. J, M, MCHQLS 1,979,900

BINDER Filed Oct. 24, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. M. NICHOLS Nov. 6, 1934.

BINDER Filed oct. 24, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet Ilvlllllllldalllla lll.

PQ w., F

Patented Nov. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to binders and is concerned more particularly with temporary binders for paper bound books, loose-leaves, documents and other papers or sheets.

5 One object of the invention is to hinge-connect the binder strips between which the sheets or other papers are temporarily bound.

A further object of the invention is to provide, as a cross-connection between the binder strips, one or more binder posts, the posts, in each instance, comprising freely slidable inter-engaging binder post parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide on the inside of the binder cover means to spread the binder strips and extend the binder posts as the binder cover sections are spread apart.

The principal advantage of a temporary binder thus characterized is that the bound sheets or 20 other papers may be opened up or spread apart to a greater extent than has been heretofore possible.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an end view of the binder showing a book or the like bound between the binder cover sections;

, Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the binder. In

30 this view the front cover section of the binder is shown partly opened up, whereas the back cover section is shown fully opened up or extended.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section of a portion of the binder showing the operating connection between one binder strip and its associated cover section.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the operating connection per se.

, Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary end View 40- yof the binder, partly in section, showing the Iposition of the binder mechanism with the cover sections closed; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, not unlike the section of Fig. 5, showing the parts arrangement with the cover sections opened wide. l In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, a binder cover of more or less conventional construction is shown. It comprises, in addition to the usual cover sections y10--10 (front and back), a reinforced back l1 to which said cover sections are hinge-connected as at 12-12.

Between the cover sections 10-10 and hingey .connected as at 13-13 to the back 11, are two 55 binder strips or flaps 14-14. These strips, in-

stead of being rigidly fastened to the back 11, are sc fastened thereto as to admit of the strips being spread apart as the binder cover sections 10-10 are widely opened. Ordinarily, in temporary binders, where binder strips are used, the strips are rigidly attached. This is objectionable in that the book or other sheets bound between said strips cannot be widely spread or fully opened up for inspection.

To fasten the book or other sheets between the strips 14-14, a plurality (preferably two) of binder posts 16 are provided. The posts 16 are, in each instance, identical. Each comprises a male member 17 provided with an enlarged rounded head portion 18, and a female member 19 provided with a similarly formed head portion 20. The male members 17 are fastened to one binder strip and the female members 19 are fastened to the other. Such fastening is obtained, in each instance, by the fitting engagement of the rounded head portions 18 and 20 in spherically walled openings 21 formed in the binder strips. In this way, said posts, as the strips are spread or-opened up, are free to move toward and from the back 11 of the cover without binding. Said male and female members, it will be noted, nt or telescope one within the other and are hence free to slide back and forth. In assembling the members 17 and 19, the members are adapted to be passed through the openings 21 from the outside of the strips until the head portions 18 and 20 are seated in the spherically walled portions of said openings.

As a closure for the openings 2l, a corresponding number of channel-shaped fittings 22 are provided. Said fittings may or may not be pivotally fastened as at 23 to the binder strips. In either case, they are adapted to be swung or lifted from one to the other of the two positions shown in Fig. 2. To remove the members 17 and 19 it is only necessary to raise the fittings until the openings 21 are uncovered. The ttings, when lowered, prevent said members 17 and 19 from being accidentally or unintentionally displaced.

As previously stated, it is intended that the strips 14-14 shall swing apart as the binder cover sections 10-10 are widely opened. That this may be automatically effected, a link connection is provided between each strip and its associated cover section. The link of each connection is designated as 24. At one end said link is pivoted as at 25, to its associated strip 14, and at its opposite end it is provided with a cross pin 26 fitted for sliding movement in a guide 27 fastened to the adjacent cover section. In Fig. 5 the cover sections are shown closed. In this position the links 24 and cover sections lO-lO lie parallel, and the pins 26 are disposed toward the outer open ends of the guide slots within which the pins engage. As the cover sections are opened up, the links are angularly displaced, and the pins 26 made to move inwardly along the guide slots. Such movement continues until the pins reach the inner closed ends of the guide slots, whereupon the continued opening of the cover sections causes said links to exert an outward pull on the binder strips, thus spreading or angularly displacing said strips in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6. As said strips are spread, the binder posts are extended simultaneously through the telescopic movement of the male and female members comprising saidposts.

From the above, it is at once apparent that a temporary binder such as herein suggested, is a distinct improvement upon similar devices heretofore proposed. To insure the wide opening up of the book or other sheets, when bound, it is only necessary that the binder cover sections be widely or fully spread.

While I have described my invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from'the spirit or scope thereof. I aim in the appended claims to cover all such modiiications and changes.

What is claimed is:

1. In a binder, a back, cover` sections hingedly fastened to said back,.binder strips hingedly fastened to said back between said cover sections, said strips having formed therein substantially hemispherically walled openings, freely extensible binder posts extending from one to the other of said strips, said posts being provided with substantially semi-ball-shaped ends adapted for fitting engagement in said openings, and removable iittings carried by said strips, said fittings providing covers for said openings by means of which said posts are held in place.

2. In a binder, a back, cover sections hingedly fastened to said back, binder strips hingedly fastened to said back between said cover sections, freely extensible binder posts extending from one to the other of said strips, and a link extending between each said strip and its associated cover section for spreading the strips and extending the binder posts as said cover sections are spread apart.

3. In a binder, a back, cover sections hingedly fastened to said back, binder strips hingedly fastened to said back between said cover sections, freely extensible binder posts extending from one to the other of said strips, and a link extending between each said strip and its associated cover section for spreading the strips and extending the binder posts as said cover sections are spread apart, each said link having, at its opposite ends, a slidable pivotal connection and a fixed pivotal connection, respectively.

4. In a binder, a back, cover sections hingedly fastened to said back, vbinder strips hingedly fastened to said back between said cover sections, freely extensible binder posts extending from one to the other of said strips, and a link extending between each said strip and its associated cover section for spreading the strips and extending the binder posts as said cover sections are spread apart, each said link being movable from a position in parallelism with its respective cover section when said cover sections are closed to a position at an angle thereto when said cover sections are spread apart.

5. In a binder, a back, cover sections hingedly fastened to said back, binder strips hingedly fastened to said back between said cover sections, said strips having formed therein curvilinear walled openings, freely extensible binder posts extending from one to the other of said strips, said posts being provided with curvilinear walled end portions adapted for fitting engagement in said openings, and removable fittings carried by said strips, said ttings providing covers for said openings by means of which said posts are held in place.

JOHN MACDONALD NICHOLS. 

